Read Online No Show by Simon Wood - Free Book Online Page B

flooring.
    “Hey, where you going? Finish your story.”
    “Later, man.”
    “Kyle,” Terry whined.
    “Don’t worry, newbie. We’ll talk. Stay cool.”

    Terry finished his first day at Genavax without getting the chance to press Kyle further. He drove home, frustration gnawing at him. What had Sarah fought over with Pamela? It certainly explained Pamela’s lack of compassion toward Sarah’s disappearance.
    When Terry got home, he had a message waiting for him on the answering machine. He hit PLAY . It was a brief message from Sheriff Holman telling him to come see him if he got the message before seven. It was 6:20. Terry had just snatched up his keys to leave when the phone rang.
    “Hello,” Terry said.
    “Hello to you.” The caller was a man, his words slow and confused. It was obvious he wasn’t expecting Terry to answer. “Is Sarah there?”
    “No.” The hairs on Terry’s arms and neck bristled. Somehow, he didn’t feel he was talking to a friend. “She’s not here right now.”
    “Huh.”
    “Can I help you?”
    “Who are you?”
    “I’m Sarah’s husband.”
    “Husband? I didn’t know she was married.”
    “Are you a friend?”
    “Mmm, more of an acquaintance.”
    “Can I tell her who called?” Terry asked, fishing for a name.
    “When will she be back?”
    “I’m not sure, but I don’t think she’ll be long.” Maybe Terry was being paranoid, but the caller sounded like he was on a fishing expedition and Terry wasn’t about to give up any information. “Can I get a number from you, er…?”
    “I don’t think you have any idea when she’ll be coming back,” the caller accused.
    “Not to the exact minute, but…”
    The caller had hung up.

    Besides Holman, the sheriff’s station was deserted when Terry walked in. He welcomed Terry with a smile.
    “Mr. Sheffield, you got my message?”
    “Yes.” Terry stopped at the front desk and leaned on the counter. “Do you have any news?”
    “Terry—I hope you don’t mind me calling you Terry?”
    Terry shook his head.
    “What you have to understand, Terry, is that the first twenty-four hours are the most crucial of any missing persons investigation and with every hour that follows, the task becomes increasingly more difficult. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
    “Sheriff, can you get to the point?”
    “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
    “I don’t want a coffee. I don’t want a cookie. I’ve been in this country less than a week and my wife’s been missing the whole time. I just want to know what the hell is going on. So please tell me.”
    “Mr. Sheffield, I understand your frustration. But let’s keep things calm. Okay?”
    Terry took a moment then nodded. “Okay. Sorry.”
    “Nothing to be sorry about. Okay, I’ve circulated her details with the local hospitals and morgues.”
    Terry’s throat tightened. Air struggled to make it into his lungs.
    “No one with your wife’s name or fitting her description has been admitted.”
    Terry breathed easy again. “Good.”
    “But we don’t know if she’s remained local. In the time she’s been missing, she could be a lot farther afield, so I’m spreading my search.”
    “She could be out of the country by now.”
    “No. That’s something I do know. SFO, Oakland, San Jose, and Sacramento report not having had a Sarah Sheffield orMorton go through their gates. So I’m going to assume she’s not flying.”
    Holman had pacified Terry’s fear to a certain extent. He’d wondered if the sheriff would do a proper job, but he seemed to be making all the right noises.
    “I now have a copy of Sarah’s driver’s license, courtesy of the DMV, and I also know what car she drives.”
    “What is it?”
    “A two-tone, white-and-gray Subaru Outback.”
    “She had a Toyota the last time I was here.”
    Holman nodded. “Well, I have something to look for now.”
    Holman proceeded to catalog a list of investigative dead ends, and Terry’s heart sank. He was